The effect of training given to patients with heart failure through transtheoretic model-based telehealth methods on self-care, drug adherence and quality of life

Aim: This study was carried out to determine the effect of training given to patients with heart failure through telehealth methods based on the transtheoretic model on self-care, drug compliance and quality of life. Material and method: The study was completed in the form of a randomized controlled, pre-test-post-test experimental design study between January and September 2022, with 77 patients in the intervention (n=34) and control (n=33) groups. The population of the study consisted of individuals who applied to the Cardiology Polyclinic and were diagnosed with heart failure within the last 6 months as of the day they applied. Data; Patient Questionnaires (related to socio-demographic characteristics and disease), European Heart Failure Self-Care Behaviors Scale (EHFScB-12) Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS), and Minnesota Heart Failure Living Questionnaire (MHLF-Q) were collected. The intervention group was given training based on the TTM-based model. The patients in the intervention group were trained and followed up for 6 months through tele-health applications (phone call and mobile application). Results: A statistically significant correlation was found between the mean scores of all scales after the training of the patients in the intervention and control groups (p<0.05) (p<0.001). Statistically, there were more changes in the intervention group compared to the pre- and post-education score differences in the total scores of CSCA, BDAS, and MDRS (p<0.001). In the intervention group, the number of patients with sufficient self-care behavior after education was statistically higher than before education (p<0.001). Conclusion: It was determined that the self-care behavior was sufficient in the EHFScB-12-total scores, the adherence to the medication increased in the MARS scores, and the quality of life improved in the MHLF-Q scores. A high effect size was obtained for the difference between the scores before and after the training according to the groups. Keywords: Nursing, Medication Compliance, Heart failure, Self-Care, Transtheoretic Model, Quality of Life.